Ore-car



.(No M01161. 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

D. G. MULVIHILL.

ORE GAR. No. 542,831. Patented July 16, 1895.

' 17073712601 .1 Jaw/0&2 C Muir 0h? 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

D. G. MULVIHILL (No Model.)

ORE GAR.

No. 542,831. Patented July 16, 1895.

Un -ran STATES PATENT Fries.

ORE-

CAR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 542,831, dated July 16, 1895.

and useful Improvements in Ore-Cars, of

which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

The object of my invention is to so construct a railway freight-car that it may be adapted either for the carrying of ore with a suitable dump or it may be converted into the ordinary gondola-car for carrying lumber and other freight.

The invention consists in the construction of a car-body having a hopper-section below the platform and a platform having sections adapted to be moved to make a floor over the hopper-sectionor to be turned to form extensions of the sides of the hopper, and, further, in the peculiar construction, arrangement, and combination of the various parts, all as more fully hereinafter described.

In the drawings, Figure l is a side elevation, partlyin section, showing at different ends of the car the movable platform in different positions. Fig. 2 is a sectional plan also showing the parts indifferent positions at difier' ent ends of the car. Fig. 3' is an end elevation, half in section.

The car is supported upon the usual trucks Z. The car-frame consists of the longitudinal sills Y and the cross-sills X, forming a substantially rectangular frame and comprising a central longitudinal. timber W.

F is a central cross-timber secured to the under side of the side sills and the central sill W, and preferably formed of an inverted beam of two angle-irons adapted to form a substantially inverted-U or channel beam.

V are permanent inclined end walls of the hopper suspended beneath the sills, and U are inclined side walls.

I are the trap-doors forming the bottom of the hopper, hinged at the sides thereof and having their outer ends supported by chains H, which are wound about the actuating-shaft E, which passes centrally through the crossbar F, this bar acting as a shield to protect Serial No. 514,421. a. model.)

the shaft and its chain from damage inhandling the ore or coal.

The platform of the car is made up of the permanent end sections T, to the inner edges of which are hinged the sections S. These two sections extend about one-quarter. the length of the car. Extending from the sections S to the middle of the car are the sections 0, which are adapted to cover the middle portion of the car when the same is used for lumber, &c., and which may be drawn up to form complementary extensions of the inclined end sections V. This is accomplished by means of. the rock-shaft A,.extending to the sides of the car and provided with suitable actuating means, and the crank-arms B secured thereto and pivoted to the outer ends of the sections 0. When thus turned, the whole car is transformed into a coal or ore car having only a central hopper, the sections S being turned upon their hinges to a vertical position, as shown in Fig. 1 at the left hand. In this position the lower end of the section 0 is supported on brackets O secured on the sides of the sills.

When it is desired to use the car for lumher and other purposes, the shafts A are rocked, bringing the inclined sections 0 from the position shown in dotted lines at the left hand in. Fig. 1 to the horizontal position shown in full lines at the right hand of that figure, these two sections forming the covering for the hopper. This construction enables me to change a car designed to carry iron ore, &c., into one which Will be available to carry'lumber, logs, &c., or vice versa, and thus enable me to use the car the entire season, while if it were not convertible it would be in use but practically half the year.

What I claim as my invention is- 1. In a car, the combination with the sides, of a fiat bottom comprising an intermediate series of removable horizontally disposed sections, hinged connections between the outer movable sections and fixed portion of the bottom, crank arms on the car frame connected at their upper ends to the central movable sections and having a limited Vertical movement, rests adjacent to the outer ends of the central movable sections, and a hopper below the bottom having inclined sides with which the central movable sections register when elevated, substantially as described.

2. In a convertible car, the combination with the frame, of a bottom normally horizontal and composed of end hinged and independently movable central sections, a hopper below the bottom, and means for longitudinally shifting the independently movable 10 sections, and simultaneously tilting the end sections, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

DANIEL C. MULVIHILL. \Vitnesses:

ALBERT E. MILLER, R. W. GILBERT. 

